Portable building structure



June 4, 1946. w. c. SMITH PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed April 19, 1945 S'Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. WARD CLINTON SMITH BY y www( ATTORNEYS Y \Ww FIG.2.

Jue 4, 1946. w. c. sMlTH 2,401,589

PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Original Filed April 19, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR; wARD cuNToN sMlTH ATTORNEYS June4, 1946. w Q SW1-H 2,401,589

PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE I Original Filed April 19. 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WARD CLINTON lSMITH ATTORNEYS Patented .lune 4, 1946 2,401,589 i PORTABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE Ward clinton smith, Detroit, Mieli., assignor to Stout Houses, Incorporated, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application April 19, 1943, Serial No.

483,636. Divided and this application January 31, 1944, Serial No. 520,491

Claims.

A This invention relates generally to `portable building structure of the type that may be transported or shipped by the manufacturer in unassembled or Y knockdown condition and may be readily and quickly assembled by unskilled labor wherever they are to be erected or used, and constitutes. a division of my application filed April 19, 1943, bearing Serial No. 483,636.

One of the essential objects of the invention` is to provide a structure wherein a post isbetween and interlocked with adjacent upright wall sections, `and adjacent roof sections are carried upon a rafter rigid with the post and straddling the Wall sections and post, whereby a reinforced assembly is obtained.

. Anoth'er object is to provide an assembly wherein depending projections or enlargements upon the undersides of the roof sections cooperate with facing strips or boards to provide inverted channels for receiving or straddling the upper edges of the upright wall sections and intermei diate posts. A

Another object is to provide an assembly having means concealing and protecting from the weather elements the joints between the roof sections and wall sections.

Another object is to provide an assembly wherein a rafter is fixed to a post between and interlocked with' upright Wall sections, and roof sections are supported by and interlocked with the wall sections and rafter.

Another object is to provide an assembly wherein grooved supporting rafters for the roof sections extend outwardly through the upright wall members or facing thereof so that the grooves in the rafters may serve as drainage channels and carry to the outside of the structure any moisture or water seeping downwardly between the roof sections.

Another object is to provide a structure that is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, easy to erect and eilicient in use.

Other objects, advantages and novel details of construction of this invention will be made more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanving drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a building structure embodying my invention, with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken substantially on theline 3--3 of Figure 1;

,Figure 4` is a sectional view `taken substantially on the line .4-4 of Figure 1; k

Ain width to the outer surface of the post VC and" I 2 Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of th'e, structure illustrated in Figure 1, with parts bro-` ken away; t

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspectlveview of one of the upright wall sections;

Figure 7 is a perspective View of one of the roof sections, with parts broken away and in section; Y

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational View of a slight modification; l

Figure 9 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the structure illustrated in Figure 8.

Referring now to the drawings, A and B respectively are adjacent upright side panel sections, C is an upright post or frame member between the upright sections A and B, D is a hori' zontal ceiling joist, E is a roof rafter, F and, Hy respectively are adjacent roof sections of a build-1 ing structure embodying my invention.

As sh'own,'the upright panel sections A and B respectively have spaced substantially parallel sheets I0 and II respectively of insulating material, upright edge members I2, and horizontal. edge members I3. The sheets IIJ and II'may be any suitable size and thickness to provide `a sturdy weather-tight siding, while the edge members I2 and I3 may be formed of any suitable material such as wood and are `rigidly secured to said sheets.

Preferably, portions I4 of the upright edge members I2 extend between ,and constitute spacers for the sheets Il! and II, while other portions I5 extend transversely across the upright edges of the sheets and are provided throughout their upright outer edges with hookshaped attaching portions I6. Likewise, a portion I'I of the horizontal edge members I3 extends between and constitutes a spacer for the sheets I0 and I I.

The upright post C is between the edge members I2 of the adjacent panel sections A and B and is provided throughout opposite upright edges thereof with hook-shaped portions I8 with which the hook-shaped portions I6V of the edge members I2 of the adjacent panel sections have an` interlocking or dovetail connection. Screws I 9r are carried by the post C at vertically spaced points thereof and are engaged at their outer ends by suitable latch members in the form of elongated plates 20V which are adapted to over.- lap the outer surfaces of the edge members I 2` of the panel sections A and B to maintain the parts in assembled relation, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, respectively.

Preferably the plates 20 are substantially equal with the hook-shaped portions I8 of the post,

the plates 20 may then be turned von the screws I9 from the upright inoperative position in registry with the outer surface of `said'post to a substantially horizontal position as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 to overlap the outer surfaces of the edge members I2 of the Aside sections to thereby hold the parts in interlocked relation.

If desired, suitable strips 2| and 22 respectively may be employed upon the outer and inner sides of the post C to-cover the connections or joints between said post and the adjacent panel sections A and B. Preferablysuch. strips 2I 'and22 are secured by nails or other suitable .fastening elements to the edge members YI2 of the panel sections :andare sufficiently wide to overlap adjacent upright edges ofthe insulating sheets Il! and I'I of said panel sections.

The router strip 2l has elongated recesses 23 for the plates 2i) and such recesses extend vtransversely'of thestrip 12| so as to hold the plates 20 from accidentally turning Aon the screws I9 after .being arranged in loverlapping relation rto the panel lsections 'A and B. If desired, the innerrstrips 22 maybe nailed 'or glued to the post Crso as to "form a rigid fpart thereof. Also theouter strips 2l may befastened to the postv Gbyimeans of screws or other suitable securing elements which preferably l.engage the post at points'between the vertically spaced plates 20.

The joistsI D and :rafters `E are carried by thel post 9C and support the roof sections F and H. Preferably.each'` joist D extends substantially horizontally between and is rigidly secured to the postl'C at opposite sides of the building, wliile they tweenand rigid witnsaid panels at opposite sideY edges thereof, transversely extending frame -rnembers 33 between and rigid with the panels at opposite endsthereof, and a facing board 34 rigid with and depending from the upper panel '36 in advance of the lower transversely extending member 33.

.To provide a firm joint between Atheroof sections-Pfand H and upright side panel sections Aand B, the lower transversely extending mein--V bers 33 of the roof sections are provided in spacedA relationto the-depending facing boards 34 with dependingenlargements 35 that are preferably equal inrthickness to and form continuations of the lower panels'3l of the roof sections and cooperate with the facing boards 34 to provide inverted channels 3l for receiving. the upper edges of `the upright side panel sections A and B and intermediate post C.

In the present instance the 'longitudinally extending vframe 4members 32 ,of the roof sections. A and B rare provided throughout their outer edges with hookshaped tongues 38 that are received in and areurged together by opposite side walls of a longitudinally extending groove 39 in the upper edge of the rafter E so that a rel- 6 atively tight joint is provided between the roof sections.

A batten strip J covers the joint between the f roof sections F and H and cooperates with the .upper panels 30 of said sections toV protect the joint between said sections from the weather elements. Preferably the upper panels 30 of the kroof sections are provided upon opposite sides of the joint beneath the batt J with primary vand secondary grooves 40 and 4I respectively to catch and drain off water andV thereby prevent it from reaching'the joint -between the sections F and H. Also, the underside of the batten strip J is arched so that it .straddles the joint between the roof sections and the secondary grooves 4I in the roof panels 3!) and has relatively sharp edges 42 at opposite sides of the arch that are received within and are adapted to bite into the bottoms of the primary grooves '40, preferably midway between the side edgesthereof, to pro` vide a tight joint between the parts. Any suitablev means Such as screws 43, double-headed nails or the like may be used to hold the batten strip J in proper assembled position on the roof panels 30 `of the roof sections. v

Thus, from the foregoing, it willY be apparent that the upright panel sections A and B, roof panel sections F and H, and other units or fsubassemblies of my structure may be made to proper specifications in one place and then shipped in knockdown orunassembled condition to another place Where they can be easily and quicklyset up and erected by unskilled labor. Bylusingthe dovetail connections'between the lpanel sections A and B and post C it is possibleto hold Vthe 40 perimeter of the structure to exact dimensions without the use of a separate fixed frame and without the need of any extra horizontal members within or upon the outer sidesof the panel Y sections. 45 Due to the dovetail connections between `the upright panel sections A 'and B and post C,'and the `connections between the rafters E andthe roof-panelsectionsF and IIthe respective panel sections will be held closely together so that'the joints are tight and self-sealing. In this connection it will be noted thatl the interlocked or dovetail connections between adjacent Vupright sections A and Brand the post C electively Vprevent the weatherelements from entering the structure through such connections. Also, the interlocked or dovetail connections between adjacent roof sections F and H and rafter E insure The' a tight joint between said roof sections. batten strip J covers the jointlbetwe'en theroof sections Fand H and `nts into the primary grooves #it in the roof panelsSii, vHence the batt 'eiectively protectsfthejoint between the'roof sections from the weather elements. Any water or moisby and would drain off in either'theprimary or secondary grooves 46 and 4I lrespectively and rtherefore would be effectively prevented from reaching the joint between the roof'sections.

The present construction is .primarily intended for the erection of relatively small and inexpensive buildings, dwellings'and `the like, such as those now being used by thegovernment..forv

housing soldiers and workmen. kHowever, it .is

ture on the roof sections Fand H would be caught' such as factories during the erection of telnporary or permanent rooms, offices and the like. Moreover, buildings of various sizes embodying the features of my construction may be erected inasmuch as the over-al1 number of upright side sections such as A and B and inclined roof sections such as F and I-I may be varied according to the size of the buildings desired.

It will also be noted that the structure has a high insulation value due to the double insulating sheet construction of the panel sections and to the tight joints between the parts. Hence, constructions embodying these features may be used very satisfactorily in either warm or cold climates.

Preferably each inclined rafter E extends outwardly through an opening 34 formed by cut out portions at the adjacent edges of the depending facing boards 3d of adjacent roof sections F and I-I, as illustrated in Figures 8 and 9, so that the groove 35i-in each rafter may receive and carry to the outside of the building any water or moisture that might seep downwardly through the joint '50 between the roof sections F and H. Thus, the rafters not only serve as structural elements for supporting the roof sections but also as supplemental drainage means for water on the roofy in case it should overflow the drainage grooves 40 and 4l and seep downwardly between the sections, as aforesaid, Y

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a building structure of the class described, an upright wall, a pair of roof sections arranged edge to edge and inclining upwardly from said wall, each roof section having a depending facing board forming an upright extension of said wall, the facing boards of adjacent roof sections being provided at their adjacent edges with cut out p0rtions forming an opening, and a common supporting rafter for said roof sections on the underside thereof and carried by said upright wall in rear of said depending facing boards, said rafter extending outwardly through the opening aforesaid at the adjacent edges of said depending facing boards and being provided immediately beneath the adjacent edges of said roof sections with drainage means, said drainage means extending through the opening aforesaid whereby water received in said drainage means from said roof sections may be carried outwardly through said depending facing boards to the exterior of the building structure.

2. In a building structure of the class described, an upright wall, a roof section extending over said wall and having a depending facing board forming an upright extension of said wall, said facing board having an opening, and a supporting rafter for said roof section on the underside thereof and carried by said upright wall in rear of said depending facing board, said rafter extending outwardly through the opening in said depending facing board and being provided immediately beneath an edge of said roof section with drainage means, said drainage means extending through the opening in said facing board whereby water received in said drainage means from said roof section may be carried outwardly through said depending facing board to the exterior of the building structure.

3. In a building structure of the class described, an upright wall, a pair of roof sections arranged edge to edge and extending over said wall, said roof sections having aligned downwardly opening channel portions straddling the upper edge of said wall, the outer side walls of the channels being provided with an opening, and a common supporting rafter for said roof sections on the underside thereof and carried by said upright wall in rear of the outer side walls of said channels, said rafter extending outwardly through the opening provided in said outer side walls of the channels and being provided immediately beneath the adjacent edges of said roof sections with drainage means, said drainage means extending through the opening aforesaid whereby water received in said drainage means from said roof sections may be carried outwardly through the outer side Walls of said channels to the exterior of the building structure.

4. In a building structure of the class described, an upright wall, a roof section extending over said wall, said roof section having a downwardly opening channel portion straddling the upper edge of said wall, the outer side wall of the channel having an opening, and a, supporting :rafter for said roof section on the underside thereof and carried by said upright wall in rear of the outer side wall of said channel, said rafter rextending outwardly through the opening in said louter side wall of the channel and being provided immedi- I ately beneath an edge of said roof section with drainage means, said drainage means extending through the opening in the outer side wall of the channel whereby water received in said drainage means from said roof section may be carried outwardly through the outer side wall of said channel to the exterior of the building structure.

5. In a building structure of the class described, an upright wall, a pair of roof sections arranged edge to edge and extending over said wall, said roof sections being provided along their adjacent edges with edge members having depending tongues and having aligned depending facing boards forming upright extensions of said wall, the facing boards of adjacent roof sections being provided at their adjacent edges with cut out portions forming an opening, and a common supporting rafter for said roof sections on the underside thereof and carried by said upright wall in rear of said depending facing boards, said rafter extending outwardly through the opening aforesaid at the adjacent edges of said depending facing boards and having an upwardly opening drainage groove receiving the depending tongues aforesaid, said drainage groove extending through the opening aforesaid whereby water received in said drainage groove from said roof sections may be carried outwardly through said depending facing boards to the exterior of the building structure.

WARD CLINTON SMITH. 

